India National Philatelic Exhibition 1975
Complete Set of 2 nos of commemorative postage stamps on the Indian National Philatelic Exhibition 1975 (INPEX-75), Calcutta :
Issued by India
Issued on Dec 25, 1975
Issued for : The P & T Department is happy to bring out two stamps on the occasion of the Second India National Philatelic Exhibition – INPEX-75 – on the 25th December, 1975.
Design : These stamps depict –
The Indian Bishop Mark in the denomination of Rs. 2/-.
An early Mail Cart in the denomination of 25 Paise.
The letter with the Bishop Mark used on the stamp of Rs. 2/- was sent from Calcutta to Dacca in 1775, stamped “CALCUTTA” and “POSTPAD” in addition to the Bishop Mark “2 FEB”. This letter is unique as it bears the earliest of the only four “Indian Bishop Marks” known.
The picture of an early Mail Cart has been adopted as the motif of the stamp in 25 P. The mail cart of early days was drawn by one or more horses. It dashed past at a tremendous pace uphill and downhill and through the plains carrying mail.
Materials for the stamp on Indian Bishop Mark by courtesy of Mr. Hammond Giles.
Designed by : Shri Benoy Sarkar
Colour :
(i) 25 P. – Black and Brown
(ii) 2 Rs. – Chestnut Red and Black
Type : Stamps, Postal Used
Denomination : 25 Paise and Rupees 2
Overall size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.
Printing size : 3.56 X 2.54 cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : printed on unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper
Number printed :
(i) 25 P. – 30,00,000
(ii) 2 Rs. – 20,00,000
Number per issue sheet : 35
Printing process : Photogravure
Printed at : India Security Press
About :
- The India National Philatelic Exhibition (INPEX-75) being organised by the Posts and Telegraphs Department from December 25-31 at Calcutta is the second one of its kind, the first having been held in New Delhi in 1970. India has also staged two International Philatelic Exhibitions (INDIPEX) – in 1954 and 1973. Besides, a series of Regional Exhibitions have also been held in various Postal Circles.
- There is no doubt that the Philatelic Exhibitions, held periodically, have gone a long way in creating a new awareness about this educative and fascinating hobby. It has, indeed, enthused more and more people, particularly from the younger generation to take to this hobby.
- The Exhibition which had a capacity of 1,000 frames displayed some of the rare and outstanding collections in the country. These will include Indian Classics, proofs and essays of stamps, Indian stamps used abroad, Indian States, Air Mails, Indian Cancellations, Postal stationery and literature. A good collection of stamps of other countries was also shown by some collectors and philatelists. The Thematic Section of the Exhibition will have various eye-catching themes like animals, flowers, trees, aviation and space flights.
- INPEX–75 Stamps :
- On this occasion of INPEX-75 more attention had been given for the reproduction of the early postmarks used in India both on stamps, first day cancellations and special cancellations.
- The earliest use of handstruck postmarks anywhere in the world had been in 1661 in Great Britain when Col. Henry Bishop was the Postmaster General there. This postmark has been named as “Bishop Mark” after his name. This is very simple in design consisting of a circle divided horizontally in half. The upper half bears a number to indicate the date of the month and the lower half the name of the month in an abbreviated form. The earliest recorded examples of Bishop Mark are those of April, 1661 used in London GPO. Later on, however, they were used in places hike Dublin, Quebec, Calcutta, etc. Examples of such “Bishop Marks” are extremely rare.
